FOR MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS I've practiced and studied hatha yoga, the school of yoga emphasizing body work and meditation. During this period the teachers who most profoundly influenced me were the yoga masters Ana Forrest and B.K.S. Iyengar. I completed my formal teacher training in 1999 with Ana Forrest.
I CONTINUED DEVELOPING MY SKILLS AS A SENIOR INSTRUCTOR at the Seattle Holistic Center, where I worked with the nationally recognized teacher Collette Crawford. (Among my workshops was the popular Heal Your Back.) And while in Seattle I continued to learn by attending a variety of training workshops and master classes.
SINCE BEGINNING MY WORKING RETIREMENT IN THE PALM SPRINGS AREA, I've taught at The Reserve Country Club, The Miramonte® Resort and Spa, and The JW Marriott® Desert Springs Resort and Spa.
I ENJOY BRINGING THE BENEFITS OF YOGA TO REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL NEEDS, both seasoned and beginning yoga practitioners, here in the Valley.
DURING MY YEARS OF TEACHING YOGA I've witnessed people's struggles with body issues, including my own. From these experiences, I've become committed to helping my students to an awareness of those hidden injuries and physical patterns, caused either by trauma or more commonly, by simple habit, that no longer serve them well.
I ENCOURAGE MY STUDENTS TO WORK TO HEAL THEMSELVES in a safe, supportive environment. I carefully watch to ensure that they do not push too hard and risk injuring themselves. The poses we do should never be uncomfortable — yoga is always done with mindful control.
IF SOME OF THE YOGA POSES LOOK DIFFICULT, TAKE HEART — I am a grandmother and mother of three grown children. The yoga we do is suitable for all body types and all ages. You are never too old to begin!
WE BEGIN WITH A PROGRAM OF BASIC POSTURES to start getting in shape and re-connecting with the body. Where appropriate, we follow the Iyengar method, using blocks, blankets, and chairs to support us. I teach the classic yoga poses and their proper form, emphasizing the body's core, on which all else depends.
YOGA POSES AND THE FLOWING MOVEMENT BETWEEN THEM, synchronized with conscious breathing, form the heart of a successful yoga session.
YOGA'S BENEFITS ARE MANY AND WELL-DOCUMENTED (browse a few of the links on my resources page). Physically, you will find yourself with improved posture, flexibility, strength, and stamina. Following from these are inevitable psychological benefits, including improved energy, stress-handling, concentration, and tranquility.
YOGA IS NOT ABOUT PUTTING YOUR FOOT BEHIND YOUR EAR. It is instead a rejuvinating process that will lead you to a new awareness of yourself and fresh view of the world.